The Machine with a Heart
In a span of seven years, audiences were given the opportunity to follow the great detective and his loyal friend as they solve cases over England. Adapted from the original creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, audiences were once again told the story of the brilliant consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Unlike the original and many other adaptations, co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss shifted from the Victorian Era to the 21st Century, placing their detective in a technology driven society. Those who are familiar with the consulting detective know of the many flaws he possesses, especially the ones towards emotions. In the beginning of Moffat’s and Gatiss’ adaptation, Sherlock, we are first introduced to the characters who appreciate and are kind to the detective. But as Sherlock and John arrive at their first crime scene together, audiences are introduced to the people who very much dislike the detective and his “freakish” fascination to homicide cases. Thus inspired the research for my adaptation. Sherlock Holmes is an icon for those who are seen or believe they are “different” than society because he has long been casted aside for his differences. The word “Freak” has been said throughout the show and is the name given to Sherlock by a New Scotland Yard sergeant detective. She consistently goes after Sherlock, especially in the first two series, for not being “human” because he does not show emotions or sympathy towards a victim. What the NSY detective does not know is that Sherlock separates emotions from his work so the problem gets solved quicker. Emotions are complicated, hard to manage, and distract the mind which is a vital part for Sherlock. It is scenes when these two detectives cross paths that influenced my research which is mainly focused on the show, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original story, and the psychology of bullying and othering people. But, the researched stemmed off to topics that happen as a result of labeling. Fearing failure is why Sherlock keeps emotions out of his mind and failure leads to his danger nights (drugs) in which Sherlock tries to calm his mind. Researching these topics are going to strengthen my adaptation as I plan to continue the detective’s story after series four of Sherlock. By continuing the story, I plan to emphasize the issue that society has on labeling others and its results. Results which has hurt people in many ways and unfortunately changes their mind and thoughts. It can and will change the mind of one genius detective which in turn causes fear and doubt in his mind. Sherlock and John will have to deal with the battle of my creation and fight through normality as it tries to take control of their lives.
Annotated Bibliography
“The Autistic Detective: Sherlock Holmes and His Legacy”*
In this article, readers are told of the long running and controversial rumor that Sherlock Holmes is on the autism spectrum. A topic that creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not touch upon while writing, but it is a topic that readers believed to be the case as to why the great detective acts the way he does. The article touches on this fact because many of those who believe this rumor instinctively believe that people in the autism spectrum act and think like Sherlock Holmes. Sonya Freeman Loftis researched this topic and uses her findings to explains that,
An article in Psychology Today explains that Holmes must be autistic because "His obsessive interest in the craft of crime-solving crowded out almost everything else from his life, including the possibility of warm and reciprocal relationships." Clearly, people on the spectrum are incapable of warm and reciprocal relationships (our ability to use sarcasm is also often falsely maligned). In Autism: Explaining the Enigma, Uta Frith presents Holmes as a "creature of cold reason who is incapable of warm-hearted relationships" and explains that he is juxtaposed with Watson, a character who is able to have "warm feelings." Certainly, the suggestion that Holmes (and the autistic population he is imagined to represent) is completely incapable of emotional connections is a disturbing one. In sum, such readings frequently present autism as "abnormal" in relation to an imaginary neurotypical norm and encourage false stereotypes of autistics as emotionless, lacking in empathy, and incapable of love (Loftis).
The research found and explained by Loftis helps people understand who are being casted out and labeled as misfits in today’s society. As people know, Sherlock Holmes was not diagnosed with anything mentally or health related, but was given the label, autistic, solely based on his characteristics and personality, which both lack emotions. As the world sees this label with Sherlock, people start to believe that those on the autism spectrum are just like him. That everyone who is autistic is rude, arrogant, uncaring, and selfish which is completely false. Loftis’s article helps to strengthen a theme in my adaptation regarding people casted out by society based on being “different”. The world should not stereotype people based on a fictional character, no matter who the character is or what they have done. Everyone in society is different from one another, there are no two people who are the same. Grouping people together, like those on the autism spectrum, is a problem in society today and has been since the beginning of time. One thing that makes Sherlock who he is is that he tries to push the labels behind him and use his “differences” to help the very people who harass him with it.
“School Bullying as a Collective Action: Stigma Processes and Identity Struggling”*
Bullying has been an ongoing issue in society for many, many years. This article not only focuses on the aspect of bullying, but as well as what happens before and during this incident. Robert Thornberg not only emphasizes the victims state of mind, but also digs deeper into the motives of the bully. Thornberg notes that,
Qualitative studies on bullying have shown that being negatively labelled as different becomes the dominant feature of the victim’s social identity at school (Cadigan, 2002; Dixon and others, 2004; Kinney, 1993; Kless, 1992; Merton, 1996; Thornberg and others, 2013). A negative reputation of the victim is constructed and spread further within the community. Even those who do not actively participate in bullying do not want to socialise with the victim because of social pressure (Hamarus and Kaikkonen, 2008). Once being constructed as a victim, stigmatised with negative labels and rejected by peers, ethnographic findings revealed that it was almost impossible for these students to change their status and improve their situation (Cadigan, 2002; Evans and Eder, 1993; Merton, 1996) (2).
With the help of this article, my audience will understand the psychological affect bullying will have on the characters. As the show, Sherlock progresses, the concept of bullying is highlighted in many ways. Because it is between adults, it is not as noticeable as it would be in a stereotypical high school. In the beginning of the show when the audience is getting to know Sherlock, we are introduced to the people who talk down to Sherlock. As a result of these comments and of Sherlock’s well known (and disliked) personality, people tend to stay away and not acknowledge him. This is mainly due to the fact that Sherlock tries to block out what is being said by one upping the comments thrown at him. The “double bullying” between these two types of characters strengthen the distaste people have for Sherlock and in turn is a main reason as to why people distance themselves from him. Unfortunately, Sherlock believes being alone is best for him, then he met John Watson. It is a reason as to why the detective values his friendship with John Watson because no one, not even DI Lestrade, has seen Sherlock as a best friend. This article is an informant for how my adaptation plans to progress in the area of seclusion within a society. No one should ever have to feel alone in the world because of how people perceive them to be.
“School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bullying”*
It is common in today’s world to have a disadvantage in social skills because of all the technology and pressure people put on others. It is also common for people to take advantage of this disadvantage by going after those who do not know how to defend themselves. In this article, readers are shown the problems children face when they cross paths with a bully and possible motives as to why others commit bullying. The authors of this article express that,
Fear of being bullied, mixed with the need to find a place in the social hierarchy of middle school, drives adolescents to bully if they find this behavior to be socially advantageous, with the outcome of their actions being to achieve greater popularity among older students. Adolescents who lag in physical strength or social skills may be targets of the physically stronger, more outspoken students who become bullies (Carney & Merrell, 2001) (Ofe, et al. 1).
This article helps to inform my adaptation of the problems Sherlock and John will have to go through in the story and the people they will have to overcome to be successful. Even though Sherlock and John are both adults, bullying happens everywhere and at every moment. It becomes an issue in school and is more common, but it will continue into adult years. A disadvantage Sherlock has among people are his social skills. He separates himself from emotions to let his mind work faster, but that does not mean his emotions will stay hidden forever. As much as characters (more specifically Sergeant Sally Donovan) in Sherlock believe Sherlock is not human, he, like everyone else, is indeed human which also means mistakes will happen and emotions will come out. As seen in past episodes, Sherlock does not manage well when he lets them go, to a point where John has difficulties managing it and leaves to separate himself from the detective until he cools down. Sergeant Donovan finds Sherlock to be an easy target because of the lack of social skills. Using his emotionless nature against him by calling him “Freak” and trying to rid him of his job because of it. She does not and probably will never see Sherlock as equal to herself even though he has helped her department in many, many way.
“Why Are We So Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes”
Creating a TV show without knowing if people will enjoy it is a stressful process. One way by making it pleasurable is by relating topics to society or the audience. In this case, both co-creators of Sherlock worked on hitting this spot to draw audiences into the show. By creating thrilling puzzles and relatable characters, the public grew attached to the friendship of Sherlock and John. This article by Matt Reimann touches on the aspects of Sherlock and how society places him. Whether he is seen as different from everyone or relatable, Reimann argues that,
The character of Sherlock Holmes remains a contemporary obsession because he reflects our anxieties about life and work. We have a particular idolization for those whose lives suffer for the sake of their vocation. One thinks of the computer genius or the Steve Jobs-like super-manager, who is not afraid of breaching niceties or being unpopular to get the best possible job done. We also think of the tortured artists—the David Foster Wallaces and Van Goghs of the world—who for their unique vision are punished by despair and isolation. The powers of perception and detection that make Sherlock a great mind and crime-solver, are the very same powers that alienate others and make all things calculable and rather devoid of magic (Reimann).
This article will help to strengthen my adaptation by explaining how Sherlock is seen by other people. As Sherlock embodies a bigger meaning into our lives, people still push him away and alienate him from society. Little does society know, the world may need a Sherlock to help everyone get set into place and start their lives. We see those who work constantly and succeed, but at the same time, we don’t see the bigger picture beneath all the wealth. Sherlock embodies this feature by showing audiences a successful man who goes through thick and thin to get where he wants to be. Unfortunately, many people in society do not want to take the extra step and give up, letting their own faults leak onto others. In this story, everyone leaks their negativity of the world onto Sherlock, casting him out because he is good at hat he loves.
“Failures or: Even Sherlock Holmes Makes a Mistake”
Society has been told that failure is never good and success is always the right answer. In reality, failure may be better than success most of the time. Failure is how we learn, adapt, and make our lives better than before. For the great detective, failure is something he despises and takes very seriously. In this article, the author talks about and uses dialog from a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel about how failure affects Sherlock Holmes mentally by expressing that,
Similar things happened in the most famous case – the curse of the Baskervilles. Would this story be so famous if only the hound caught the right scent and killed sir Henry instead of a fugitive criminal? Even there Holmes admitted that he failed:
“I am more to blame than you, Watson. In order to have my case well rounded and complete, I have thrown away the life of my client. It is the greatest blow which has befallen me in my career. But how could I know—how could l know—that he would risk his life alone upon the moor in the face of all my warnings?” ‘That we should have heard his screams—my God’ ” (Failures or: Even Sherlock Holmes Makes a Mistake).
This article tells readers of the times where the detective was not successful in cases. Even in ones he solved, there was always a failure within its making. Reading this article helps to inform my adaptation of the hatred Sherlock Holmes has for failure and that instead of brushing it away, he owns up to it, but not in a good or healthy way. Admitting to failure is hard to do even for the best people. Those who admit to it either accept it and fix it or take it personally. Unfortunately, Sherlock keeps it playing in his mind and does not let it go. He analysis it to see if there was another way and scolds himself for it. Making failure personal may seem like the best option, but in reality, it will only make things worse. Sherlock, not having a lot if experience with emotions, does not really know how to adjust with failing and lets it boiling in his mind. It is a reason as to why Sherlock wants to be better than others and keeps emotions away. He does not want to deal with the feeling of failure.
“Sherlock Recap: A Sick Man”
The mind is a tricky and complex place. It holds our life. To Sherlock, his mind is the most important part of his being. He does everything to make sure it is functional, not bored, and healthy. This leads to abandoning every other part of his body which he refers to as, transport. If a case needed him to kill his body, Sherlock would do it. In this episode, he actually did. Although it was for a case, Sherlock went back to his old habits and used drugs again. Believing he met a suicidal client, Sherlock does everything to keep her company. Little does he know, they are not suicidal which leaves the author for this article, Andrew Lapin, to believe that,
When he imagines a late-night visit from Culverton’s daughter, Faith, bringing him the case of her father, he projects onto her all the traits we later learn are meant as references to his own suicidal tendencies: the marks on her arms indicating self-harm, the careless wandering into the rain without a coat, the handgun she’s carrying on her person. Far later in the episode, it’s suggested that Sherlock’s version of “Faith” had been just a projection brought on by loneliness and drugs — and when the truth finally comes out in the closing scene, we learn that “Faith” was actually his evil sister Euros (!) in disguise. The real Faith had never seen Sherlock before, which means we must come to terms with something shocking about the formerly unflappable detective: Sherlock Holmes might actually be mistaken about something (Lapin).
This article not only informs my adaptation, but helps to emphasize what a main topic will be about. Whether people are fans of the original Sherlock Holmes or BBC’s Sherlock, everyone knows of Sherlock’s past as an addict. This episode which aired after the death of John Watson’s wife, Mary, lets the audience believe that Sherlock is placing the guilt of her death in his hands. After getting a message about how to make John forgive him, Sherlock looks to drugs believing it will bring John back. As it gets out of hand, audiences are left to believe that Sherlock may have been considering suicide. It is a very touchy subject, but the show from the very beginning made references to it. And each time that it was referenced, this person was saved. This article will help to enforce this topic that even people with the greatest minds and who never ask questions sometimes do need help.
Works Cited
Loftis, Sonya Freeman. “The Autistic Detective: Sherlock Holmes and His Legacy.” Disability
Studies Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 4, Fall 2014, p. 2. EBSCOhost, dsq-sds.org/article/view/3728/3791
Thornberg, Robert. “School Bullying as a Collective Action: Stigma Processes and Identity
Struggling.” Children & Society, vol. 29, no. 4, July 2015, p. 310. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edb&AN=102990070&site=eds-live.
Ofe, Erin E., et al. “School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge and Perceptions of
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bullying.” Language, Speech, & Hearing Services in Schools, no. 1, 2016, p. 59. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1044/2015_LSHSS-15-0058.
Reimann, Matt. “Why Are We So Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes?” Our Blog,
blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-sherlock-holmes.
Failures or: Even Sherlock Holmes Makes a Mistake.” Failures, or: Even Sherlock Holmes
Makes a Mistake, www.fext.eu/other/sh-failures.htm.
Vulture. “Sherlock Recap: A Sick Man.” Vulture, 8 Jan. 2017,
www.vulture.com/2017/01/sherlock-recap-season-4-episode-2.html
In a span of seven years, audiences were given the opportunity to follow the great detective and his loyal friend as they solve cases over England. Adapted from the original creation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, audiences were once again told the story of the brilliant consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson. Unlike the original and many other adaptations, co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss shifted from the Victorian Era to the 21st Century, placing their detective in a technology driven society. Those who are familiar with the consulting detective know of the many flaws he possesses, especially the ones towards emotions. In the beginning of Moffat’s and Gatiss’ adaptation, Sherlock, we are first introduced to the characters who appreciate and are kind to the detective. But as Sherlock and John arrive at their first crime scene together, audiences are introduced to the people who very much dislike the detective and his “freakish” fascination to homicide cases. Thus inspired the research for my adaptation. Sherlock Holmes is an icon for those who are seen or believe they are “different” than society because he has long been casted aside for his differences. The word “Freak” has been said throughout the show and is the name given to Sherlock by a New Scotland Yard sergeant detective. She consistently goes after Sherlock, especially in the first two series, for not being “human” because he does not show emotions or sympathy towards a victim. What the NSY detective does not know is that Sherlock separates emotions from his work so the problem gets solved quicker. Emotions are complicated, hard to manage, and distract the mind which is a vital part for Sherlock. It is scenes when these two detectives cross paths that influenced my research which is mainly focused on the show, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s original story, and the psychology of bullying and othering people. But, the researched stemmed off to topics that happen as a result of labeling. Fearing failure is why Sherlock keeps emotions out of his mind and failure leads to his danger nights (drugs) in which Sherlock tries to calm his mind. Researching these topics are going to strengthen my adaptation as I plan to continue the detective’s story after series four of Sherlock. By continuing the story, I plan to emphasize the issue that society has on labeling others and its results. Results which has hurt people in many ways and unfortunately changes their mind and thoughts. It can and will change the mind of one genius detective which in turn causes fear and doubt in his mind. Sherlock and John will have to deal with the battle of my creation and fight through normality as it tries to take control of their lives.
Annotated Bibliography
“The Autistic Detective: Sherlock Holmes and His Legacy”*
In this article, readers are told of the long running and controversial rumor that Sherlock Holmes is on the autism spectrum. A topic that creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle did not touch upon while writing, but it is a topic that readers believed to be the case as to why the great detective acts the way he does. The article touches on this fact because many of those who believe this rumor instinctively believe that people in the autism spectrum act and think like Sherlock Holmes. Sonya Freeman Loftis researched this topic and uses her findings to explains that,
An article in Psychology Today explains that Holmes must be autistic because "His obsessive interest in the craft of crime-solving crowded out almost everything else from his life, including the possibility of warm and reciprocal relationships." Clearly, people on the spectrum are incapable of warm and reciprocal relationships (our ability to use sarcasm is also often falsely maligned). In Autism: Explaining the Enigma, Uta Frith presents Holmes as a "creature of cold reason who is incapable of warm-hearted relationships" and explains that he is juxtaposed with Watson, a character who is able to have "warm feelings." Certainly, the suggestion that Holmes (and the autistic population he is imagined to represent) is completely incapable of emotional connections is a disturbing one. In sum, such readings frequently present autism as "abnormal" in relation to an imaginary neurotypical norm and encourage false stereotypes of autistics as emotionless, lacking in empathy, and incapable of love (Loftis).
The research found and explained by Loftis helps people understand who are being casted out and labeled as misfits in today’s society. As people know, Sherlock Holmes was not diagnosed with anything mentally or health related, but was given the label, autistic, solely based on his characteristics and personality, which both lack emotions. As the world sees this label with Sherlock, people start to believe that those on the autism spectrum are just like him. That everyone who is autistic is rude, arrogant, uncaring, and selfish which is completely false. Loftis’s article helps to strengthen a theme in my adaptation regarding people casted out by society based on being “different”. The world should not stereotype people based on a fictional character, no matter who the character is or what they have done. Everyone in society is different from one another, there are no two people who are the same. Grouping people together, like those on the autism spectrum, is a problem in society today and has been since the beginning of time. One thing that makes Sherlock who he is is that he tries to push the labels behind him and use his “differences” to help the very people who harass him with it.
“School Bullying as a Collective Action: Stigma Processes and Identity Struggling”*
Bullying has been an ongoing issue in society for many, many years. This article not only focuses on the aspect of bullying, but as well as what happens before and during this incident. Robert Thornberg not only emphasizes the victims state of mind, but also digs deeper into the motives of the bully. Thornberg notes that,
Qualitative studies on bullying have shown that being negatively labelled as different becomes the dominant feature of the victim’s social identity at school (Cadigan, 2002; Dixon and others, 2004; Kinney, 1993; Kless, 1992; Merton, 1996; Thornberg and others, 2013). A negative reputation of the victim is constructed and spread further within the community. Even those who do not actively participate in bullying do not want to socialise with the victim because of social pressure (Hamarus and Kaikkonen, 2008). Once being constructed as a victim, stigmatised with negative labels and rejected by peers, ethnographic findings revealed that it was almost impossible for these students to change their status and improve their situation (Cadigan, 2002; Evans and Eder, 1993; Merton, 1996) (2).
With the help of this article, my audience will understand the psychological affect bullying will have on the characters. As the show, Sherlock progresses, the concept of bullying is highlighted in many ways. Because it is between adults, it is not as noticeable as it would be in a stereotypical high school. In the beginning of the show when the audience is getting to know Sherlock, we are introduced to the people who talk down to Sherlock. As a result of these comments and of Sherlock’s well known (and disliked) personality, people tend to stay away and not acknowledge him. This is mainly due to the fact that Sherlock tries to block out what is being said by one upping the comments thrown at him. The “double bullying” between these two types of characters strengthen the distaste people have for Sherlock and in turn is a main reason as to why people distance themselves from him. Unfortunately, Sherlock believes being alone is best for him, then he met John Watson. It is a reason as to why the detective values his friendship with John Watson because no one, not even DI Lestrade, has seen Sherlock as a best friend. This article is an informant for how my adaptation plans to progress in the area of seclusion within a society. No one should ever have to feel alone in the world because of how people perceive them to be.
“School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bullying”*
It is common in today’s world to have a disadvantage in social skills because of all the technology and pressure people put on others. It is also common for people to take advantage of this disadvantage by going after those who do not know how to defend themselves. In this article, readers are shown the problems children face when they cross paths with a bully and possible motives as to why others commit bullying. The authors of this article express that,
Fear of being bullied, mixed with the need to find a place in the social hierarchy of middle school, drives adolescents to bully if they find this behavior to be socially advantageous, with the outcome of their actions being to achieve greater popularity among older students. Adolescents who lag in physical strength or social skills may be targets of the physically stronger, more outspoken students who become bullies (Carney & Merrell, 2001) (Ofe, et al. 1).
This article helps to inform my adaptation of the problems Sherlock and John will have to go through in the story and the people they will have to overcome to be successful. Even though Sherlock and John are both adults, bullying happens everywhere and at every moment. It becomes an issue in school and is more common, but it will continue into adult years. A disadvantage Sherlock has among people are his social skills. He separates himself from emotions to let his mind work faster, but that does not mean his emotions will stay hidden forever. As much as characters (more specifically Sergeant Sally Donovan) in Sherlock believe Sherlock is not human, he, like everyone else, is indeed human which also means mistakes will happen and emotions will come out. As seen in past episodes, Sherlock does not manage well when he lets them go, to a point where John has difficulties managing it and leaves to separate himself from the detective until he cools down. Sergeant Donovan finds Sherlock to be an easy target because of the lack of social skills. Using his emotionless nature against him by calling him “Freak” and trying to rid him of his job because of it. She does not and probably will never see Sherlock as equal to herself even though he has helped her department in many, many way.
“Why Are We So Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes”
Creating a TV show without knowing if people will enjoy it is a stressful process. One way by making it pleasurable is by relating topics to society or the audience. In this case, both co-creators of Sherlock worked on hitting this spot to draw audiences into the show. By creating thrilling puzzles and relatable characters, the public grew attached to the friendship of Sherlock and John. This article by Matt Reimann touches on the aspects of Sherlock and how society places him. Whether he is seen as different from everyone or relatable, Reimann argues that,
The character of Sherlock Holmes remains a contemporary obsession because he reflects our anxieties about life and work. We have a particular idolization for those whose lives suffer for the sake of their vocation. One thinks of the computer genius or the Steve Jobs-like super-manager, who is not afraid of breaching niceties or being unpopular to get the best possible job done. We also think of the tortured artists—the David Foster Wallaces and Van Goghs of the world—who for their unique vision are punished by despair and isolation. The powers of perception and detection that make Sherlock a great mind and crime-solver, are the very same powers that alienate others and make all things calculable and rather devoid of magic (Reimann).
This article will help to strengthen my adaptation by explaining how Sherlock is seen by other people. As Sherlock embodies a bigger meaning into our lives, people still push him away and alienate him from society. Little does society know, the world may need a Sherlock to help everyone get set into place and start their lives. We see those who work constantly and succeed, but at the same time, we don’t see the bigger picture beneath all the wealth. Sherlock embodies this feature by showing audiences a successful man who goes through thick and thin to get where he wants to be. Unfortunately, many people in society do not want to take the extra step and give up, letting their own faults leak onto others. In this story, everyone leaks their negativity of the world onto Sherlock, casting him out because he is good at hat he loves.
“Failures or: Even Sherlock Holmes Makes a Mistake”
Society has been told that failure is never good and success is always the right answer. In reality, failure may be better than success most of the time. Failure is how we learn, adapt, and make our lives better than before. For the great detective, failure is something he despises and takes very seriously. In this article, the author talks about and uses dialog from a Sir Arthur Conan Doyle novel about how failure affects Sherlock Holmes mentally by expressing that,
Similar things happened in the most famous case – the curse of the Baskervilles. Would this story be so famous if only the hound caught the right scent and killed sir Henry instead of a fugitive criminal? Even there Holmes admitted that he failed:
“I am more to blame than you, Watson. In order to have my case well rounded and complete, I have thrown away the life of my client. It is the greatest blow which has befallen me in my career. But how could I know—how could l know—that he would risk his life alone upon the moor in the face of all my warnings?” ‘That we should have heard his screams—my God’ ” (Failures or: Even Sherlock Holmes Makes a Mistake).
This article tells readers of the times where the detective was not successful in cases. Even in ones he solved, there was always a failure within its making. Reading this article helps to inform my adaptation of the hatred Sherlock Holmes has for failure and that instead of brushing it away, he owns up to it, but not in a good or healthy way. Admitting to failure is hard to do even for the best people. Those who admit to it either accept it and fix it or take it personally. Unfortunately, Sherlock keeps it playing in his mind and does not let it go. He analysis it to see if there was another way and scolds himself for it. Making failure personal may seem like the best option, but in reality, it will only make things worse. Sherlock, not having a lot if experience with emotions, does not really know how to adjust with failing and lets it boiling in his mind. It is a reason as to why Sherlock wants to be better than others and keeps emotions away. He does not want to deal with the feeling of failure.
“Sherlock Recap: A Sick Man”
The mind is a tricky and complex place. It holds our life. To Sherlock, his mind is the most important part of his being. He does everything to make sure it is functional, not bored, and healthy. This leads to abandoning every other part of his body which he refers to as, transport. If a case needed him to kill his body, Sherlock would do it. In this episode, he actually did. Although it was for a case, Sherlock went back to his old habits and used drugs again. Believing he met a suicidal client, Sherlock does everything to keep her company. Little does he know, they are not suicidal which leaves the author for this article, Andrew Lapin, to believe that,
When he imagines a late-night visit from Culverton’s daughter, Faith, bringing him the case of her father, he projects onto her all the traits we later learn are meant as references to his own suicidal tendencies: the marks on her arms indicating self-harm, the careless wandering into the rain without a coat, the handgun she’s carrying on her person. Far later in the episode, it’s suggested that Sherlock’s version of “Faith” had been just a projection brought on by loneliness and drugs — and when the truth finally comes out in the closing scene, we learn that “Faith” was actually his evil sister Euros (!) in disguise. The real Faith had never seen Sherlock before, which means we must come to terms with something shocking about the formerly unflappable detective: Sherlock Holmes might actually be mistaken about something (Lapin).
This article not only informs my adaptation, but helps to emphasize what a main topic will be about. Whether people are fans of the original Sherlock Holmes or BBC’s Sherlock, everyone knows of Sherlock’s past as an addict. This episode which aired after the death of John Watson’s wife, Mary, lets the audience believe that Sherlock is placing the guilt of her death in his hands. After getting a message about how to make John forgive him, Sherlock looks to drugs believing it will bring John back. As it gets out of hand, audiences are left to believe that Sherlock may have been considering suicide. It is a very touchy subject, but the show from the very beginning made references to it. And each time that it was referenced, this person was saved. This article will help to enforce this topic that even people with the greatest minds and who never ask questions sometimes do need help.
Works Cited
Loftis, Sonya Freeman. “The Autistic Detective: Sherlock Holmes and His Legacy.” Disability
Studies Quarterly, vol. 34, no. 4, Fall 2014, p. 2. EBSCOhost, dsq-sds.org/article/view/3728/3791
Thornberg, Robert. “School Bullying as a Collective Action: Stigma Processes and Identity
Struggling.” Children & Society, vol. 29, no. 4, July 2015, p. 310. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip,uid&db=edb&AN=102990070&site=eds-live.
Ofe, Erin E., et al. “School-Based Speech-Language Pathologists’ Knowledge and Perceptions of
Autism Spectrum Disorder and Bullying.” Language, Speech, & Hearing Services in Schools, no. 1, 2016, p. 59. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1044/2015_LSHSS-15-0058.
Reimann, Matt. “Why Are We So Obsessed with Sherlock Holmes?” Our Blog,
blog.bookstellyouwhy.com/why-are-we-so-obsessed-with-sherlock-holmes.
Failures or: Even Sherlock Holmes Makes a Mistake.” Failures, or: Even Sherlock Holmes
Makes a Mistake, www.fext.eu/other/sh-failures.htm.
Vulture. “Sherlock Recap: A Sick Man.” Vulture, 8 Jan. 2017,
www.vulture.com/2017/01/sherlock-recap-season-4-episode-2.html